West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-09-29
1.-THE PRIME MINISTER"
DIR. TALMAGEs SUNDAY SERMON.
The Good Man Need Have No Pear OF
Being Crushed. Though
All Is Darkness.

You cannot keep god man down God
mas decreed for him a certain elevation TO
which he must attain. He will bring him
through though IL cost Him thou
sand worlds There are men constantly in
trouble lest they shall not be appreciated
Every man comes in the end 20 be valued at
Just what he Is worth. How often YOU see
men turn out all their forces TO crush
one man or set Of men. How do they
succeedf No better than did the govern
'nent that tried to crush Joseph, a Scripture
Character upon which we speak to-day IL
would be an insult 70 suppose that you were
not all familiar with the life of Joseph; how
his jealous brothers threw him into the pit
but, seeing caravan OF Arabian merchants
moving along on their camels with spices and
gums, that loaded the air with aroma sold
their brother TO these merchants, who carried
him down into Egypt; how Joseph was sold
10 Potiphar, a man Of influence and office: how
by his integrity he raised himself 20 high posi-
ton IN the realm, until under the false charge
OF vile wretch he was hurled into the penl-
tentiarY; how in prison he commanded re-
spect and confidence; how by the interpreta-
ton of Paraoh's dream he was freed and be-
came the chief man in government, the Bis.
marck OF the nation; how in time of famine
Joseph had the control OF a storehouse
which he had filed during the seven
years of plenty; how when his brothers who
had thrown him into the pit and sold him into
captivity applied for corn he sent them home
with their beasts borne down under the
heft OF the corn sacks: how the sin against
their brother which had so long been hidden
came out at last. and was returned by that
brothers forgiveness and kindness, an IL
lustrious triumph OF Christian principle
Learn from this story in the first place.
that the world is compelled to honor Christian
character. Potiphar was only man OF the
world, yet Joseph rose in his estimation until
all the affairs of that great house were com
mitted to his charge. From this servant no
honors or condolences were withheld When
Joseph was in prison no soon won the heart
OF the keeper, and though placed
there for being scoundrei he soon
convinced the jailer that he was an in
nocant man, and released from close confne-
ment, he became general super ntendent
OF prison affairs. Wherever Joseph was
placed, whether n servant in the house of
Potiphar or prisoner in the penitentiary he
became the first man everywhere and is an
Illustration OF the truth / lay down. that the
world is compelled TO honor Christian char
acter.
There are those who affect TO desnise n re-
hgious life They speak of il as a system of
phlebotomy by which man is bled OF all his
courage and nobility. They say he has be-
meaned himself They pretend TO have no
more confidence in him since his conversion
than before his conversion. But all that Is
hypocrisy. 1t is impossible for any man
not to admire and confde i'm n Chris
tan who shows that he has really become a
enid OF God and is what he processes to be-
You cannot despise a son or a daughter of
the Lord God Almighty. OF course half and
half religious character wins no approba-
ton: Redwald, the King of the Saxons, after
Christian baptism had two affairs, one for
the worship OF God and the other for the
sacrifice of devils. You may have a contempt
for such men, for mere pretensions of
religion, but when you behold the excellency
OF Jesus Christ come out in the life of one OF
his disciples, all that there is good and noble
IN your soul rises up into admiration.
Though that Christian be as far beneath
you in estate as the Egyptian slave of whom
We We are discussing by an irreyocable
viii always esteem Joseph. Chrysostom
when threatened with death by Eudoxia. the
Empress, sent word to her SAYING; SEQ tell
her that l fear nothing but SIM Such no
bllty OF character will always be applauded
There was something in Agrippa and Felix
which demanded their respect for Paul the
rebel against government. doubt not thew
would Willingly have yielded their office and
dignity for the thousandth part of that
true herosm which beanied i'm the
eye and beat in the heart of the unconoueI.-
able apostle. The infidel and wording are
compelled to honor in their hearts though
tthey may not eulogize with their lips,
Christian firm in persecution, cheerful i'm
poverty, trustful in losses triumphant i'm
death find Christian men in all professions
and occupations, and / find them respected.
ana honored and successful John Frederick
Oberlln alternating ignorance and distress.
John Howard passing from dungeon to La.
arctic with healing for the body and the soul.
Elizabeth Frye coming to the prohipate OF
NeWgate prison TO shake down their obdIl-
iTacy as the angel came TO the prison at Phil
hppi, driving open the doors and snap
ping locks and chains as well rs
the lives OF thousands Of the follow
ers OF Jesus who have devoted them
selves TO the temporal and spiritual
welfare of the race, are monuments of the
Christian religion that shall not crumble
while the world lasts. a man in the cars
said; Il would like to become Christian if
1 only knew what religion is But IL this
lying and cheating and bad behavior amono,
men VINO profess to be good is religion. I
want none of it.n But, my friends III am
an artist in Rome and man comes to me and
asks what The art OF painting is, / must not
show him the daub OF some mere DretancIov.
! will take him TO tho RanhooIs orJ tbe
michael Angeles. ft is most unfair and ais
honest 10 take the ignOminious failures i'm
CHRISTIAN profession instead Of the glorious
successes. The Bible and the church ore o-reat
picture galleries filed with masterpieces
Furthermore, we learn from this story OF
joseph that the result Of persecution il eISva-
tlon. Had 10 not been for his being sold into
Egyptian bondage by his malicious brothers
and his false impriSonment .IoSenb ,gonid
never have become Prime Minister Every.
Dody accepts the promise " Blessed
are they that are prosecuted for ri.ht-
IIGusilesS sake, for theirs is the
kIIguoIn OF heaven" but they do
not realize the fact that this principle ap-
pies 70 worldly as well as spiritual success
HAD u not been for Hschines who brought
impeachment against Demostheuos the Inn
mortal Grafton De Corona, would never have
been delivered. Men rise to high political
position through misrepresentation aud the
assault OF the public Public abuse is all that
some OF our public men have hal
20 rely upon for their elevation m
mas brought 10 them what talent and
executive force could never have achieved
many OF those who are making great effort
TOT place and power viii never succeed lust
because they are not Of enough Importance
70 DO abused. 10 is the nature OF man To
gamer about those who are prosecuted and
9etend tncm and they are apt to forget the
iaulJs OF thos3 who are the subjects Of at
TACK while attempting 10 drive back the
siandercr5. Helen Stirk a Scotch martyr
Condemned with her husband 10 death Tor
Chilsts sake, said IN her husband. "Reioice.
We nave 1ved together many joyful davs but
tnW dAj wherein We mn st die together ought
to be- most joyful to MS both. Therefore
VIII not bid you COOL night. for soon we shall
meet in the heavenly kingdom BY the flash
or tho furnace best Christian character is
demonstrated.
20 into another department AMI find
That those great denominations Of Christians
Mhch have been most abused have spread
the most rapidly. No good man was ever
more Wiley maltreatoi than John Wesley
IT'S followers were booted at and malignod
am called by every dcte-tabl9 name that i'm
iernal ingenuity could invent. but the hotter
the persecution the more rapid tho qproad 81
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